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some family objections on the part of my cousin,she would never give her consent to what she termed so disgraceful a match.I thought it my duty to give the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin,that she and her noble admirer may be aware of what they are about,and not run hastily into a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned.'Mr.Collins moreover adds,'I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia's sad business has been so well hushed up,and am only concerned that their living together before the marriage took place should be so generally known.I must not, however,neglect the duties of my station,or refrain from declaring my amazement at hearing that you received the young couple into your house as soon as they were married.It was an encouragement of vice; and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I should very strenuously have opposed it.You ought certainly to forgive them, as a Christian, but never to admit them in your sight, or allow their names to be mentioned in your hearing.'That is his notion of Christian forgiveness!The rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte's situation,and his expectation of a young olive-branch. But,Lizzy,you look as if you did not enjoy it.You are not going to be missish,I hope,and pretend to be affronted at an idle report. For what do we live,but to make sport for our neighbours,and laugh at them in our turn?”

    “Oh!”cried Elizabeth,“I am excessively diverted. But it is so strange!”

    “Yes—that is what makes it amusing. Had they fixed on any other man it would have been nothing;but his perfect indifference, and your pointed dislike, make it so delightfully absurd! Much as I abominate writing, I would not give up Mr. Collins's correspondence for any consideration.Nay,when I read a letter of his,I cannot help giving him the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my son-in-law. And pray,Lizzy,what said Lady Catherine about this report?Did she call to refuse her consent?”To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh; and as it had been asked without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by his repeating it. Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not.It was necessary to laugh,when she would rather have cried.Her father had most cruelly mortified her, by what he said of Mr. Darcy's indifference,and she could do nothing but wonder at such a want of penetration,or fear that perhaps,instead of his seeing too little, she might have fancied too much.